Tagged: V7

Moto Guzzi

Unrestored Original: 1974 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport for Sale

1974 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport L Side Front

You’d be forgiven for thinking the site is now ClassicItalianSportbikesforSale.com, considering the raft of recent posts… and that impression won’t be changing this week, with two bikes from Mandello del Lario that were just too nice to pass up, starting with this beautiful V7 Sport.

1974 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport R Side

While Moto Guzzi has, for the past twenty years or so, been thought of as more of a sport-touring manufacturer, like an Italian BMW, it’s important to remember that the V7 Sport and LeMans were very serious sports motorcycles, as quick and nimble as anything being made at the time. In fact, a comparison between the Le Mans and the Ducati 900SS saw reviewers describing the Guzzi as having the freer-reving engine. And while the shaft drive’s torque-effect is noticeable, you quickly get used to it. It was only Guzzi’s inability to keep up with the relentless forward march of the Japanese manufacturers that forced them to recast their image in the same way the Brits were forced to in the 1980’s, trading “performance” for “sophistication” and “character.”

1974 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport Clocks

The V7 was where it all began for Guzzi’s v-twin sportbikes. The earlier loop-framed motorcycles offered stable handling, comfort, and reliability, but were too tall and too heavy to really perform as sportbikes. So Lino Tonti designed a new frame that wrapped around the longitudinally-mounted engine and bulky five-speed transmission, using removable down-tubes to allow for servicing. The engine was punched out to 748cc’s to comply with 750cc class limits and the generator was moved to the front of the engine to reduce overall height. The result was bike with a long, low silhouette that handled well, stopped quickly, and made plenty of power.

1974 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport R Side Rear

This example has relatively low mileage and is claimed to be in original, unrestored condition. To me, these bikes look best in the famous lime-green color, but you can’t go wrong with black. Later bikes had twin discs up front, but the earlier drum looks great and offered good stopping power.

1974 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport Front Brake

From the original eBay listing: 1974 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport for Sale

Third owner bike. It was purchased from a good friend who owned it for many years so I know this bike runs very well and personally ridden it on 80 miles canyon rides on weekends multiple times. Minimum patina and only original once.

From manufacture tag, it is June 1973 production model. Titled as a 74 when sold from the dealer in Canada. Matching number prestige original condition. Just take the time to look at all the photos which shows how beautiful it is especially the drum brakes and shark fins exhaust and other unique car engine concepts and details. Bike has been documented in logs of all service done over the years with receipts. It has constantly been maintained and serviced as necessary.

This is Moto Guzzi’s Sport model that company used in competition. Drum brakes works excellent. Electric start by push button on right handlebar or twisting ignition key like a car makes riding practical. Torque on the V7 pulls fast and cruise the freeways easily over 80mph. Handlebars can be easily moved to upper position for great comfort and long flat seat make it an excellent touring bike with the passenger.

Bike has been stored indoors, ridden, and maintained, waxed routinely.

Clear CA title and registration in my name.

1974 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport Engine

The seller also includes a list of maintenance and recent work that’s gone into the bike over at the original listing. He does also mention and point out that there is one broken cooling fin that’s hiding under the intake on the right side of the bike, but says that it can be fixed if the head is ever off the bike.

1974 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport Tank Detail

Other than that, this bike looks to be in exceptional original condition and is ready to ride. His Buy It Now price is set at $19,400.00 which is on the high side, but is far from outrageous, especially considering the condition. These are steadily appreciating classics that you can ride regularly if you choose and, if I had the cash, there’d be one in my garage for sure.

-tad

1974 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport L Side

Moto Guzzi

Italian Thunder: 1977 Moto Guzzi Le Mans for Sale

1977 Moto Guzzi Le Mans R Side

The Le Mans, Moto Guzzi’s famous 1970’s superbike, was an evolution of their earlier V7 Sport, with restyled bodywork and a bigger engine. Introduced in 1976 to keep pace with competition heating up between Europe and Japan, the Le Mans featured the same Lino Tonti designed frame, but saw the engine punched out to 850cc’s. Chrome-lined cylinders, high-compression pistons and other standard hot-rod tricks gave 71hp at the rear wheel and a top speed of 130. While not the fastest bike of the period, it was rock-solid and stable, and could keep that speed up all day long.

1977 Moto Guzzi Le Mans Engine

Built around an unlikely powertrain that included shaft drive and a longitudinally mounted v-twin, Guzzi’s sportbikes still performed well and are famous for their durability: the two-valve, pushrod engines are easy to work on if you’re so inclined, but are oil-tight and very robust.

1977 Moto Guzzi Le Mans Dash

From the original eBay listing: 1977 Moto Guzzi 850 Le Mans for Sale

6800 miles! All original except electronic ignition and Corbin seat, have original seat, still in pretty good shape. See pic. Paint is mostly good with small nicks and chips from 30plus years of life. Small scrape on front ferring. See pic.  I bought another ferring that was supposed to be “excellent”. Isn’t even fair. Will go with bike if you want it. I put on new throttle cables and foot rubbers a couple of years ago. Changed oil over winter. Runs and rides like it should. Might need a battery, its about 3 yrs old and sounds a little week. Your welcome to come see before you bid.

1977 Moto Guzzi Le Mans Rear

As you can see, there’s a small amount of surface rust on the front rotors, a few dings here and there, and that comfortable, if not original Corbin seat. Note that the seller does have the original seat. Interestingly, these seats are made of a closed-cell foam that did not hold up well to hard use, and few have survived from new. The bike also includes that ugly, but unfortunately original, US headlight ring that projects beyond the surface of the bikini fairing. It’d be my first order of business to fit a replica Euro-styled piece if this were mine.

Bidding is very active and the reserve has been met. It seems like, just a few years ago, these were selling regularly for $6,000 or so. This one is headed north of $10,000 with several days to go. Aside from a few minor cosmetic flaws, this looks to be a solid example of an iconic and very practical Italian sportbike.

-tad

1977 Moto Guzzi Le Mans L Side

Moto Guzzi

Low and Lean: 1973 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport

http://ebay.com/sch/i.html?_dcat=6024&_fsrp=1&_sop=3&_nkw=(r1100s%2C+r1200s%2C+fzr%2C+ducati%2C+aprilia%2C+bimota%2C+cbr%2C+cb%2C+rc51%2C+rc45%2C+rc30%2C+vfr%2C+yzf%2C+fzr%2C+ninja%2C+rd%2C+rz%2C+rzv%2C+rg%2C+rgv%2C+rare%2C+two+stroke%2C+guzzi%2C+yamaha%2Czx%2C+zxr%2Cgsx%2C+gsxr%2C+nsr%2C+tzr+)&_sacat=6024&_from=R40&rt=nc&Model%2520Year=1977%7C1978%7C1979%7C1980%7C1981%7C1982%7C1983%7C1985%7C1986%7C1987%7C1988%7C1989%7C1990%7C1991%7C1993%7C1994%7C1995%7C1996%7C1997%7C1998%7C1999%7C2000%7C2001%7C2002%7C2003%7C2004%7C2005&LH_TitleDesc=0&Make=Aprilia%7CBenelli%7CBimota%7CBMW%7CBuell%7CDucati%7CHonda%7CMoto%2520Guzzi%7CMV%2520Agusta%7COther%2520Makes%7CSuzuki%7CYamaha&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&siteid=0&campid=5336355465&toolid=20008&mkevt=1&MBDACmisc=VSUIbu

1973 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport Green L Side

To me, old Moto Guzzis like this V7 Sport are just about the perfect vintage bikes: they’re rare, but parts are available to keep them running. The styling is classic, but they’re relatively reliable, and dead-simple to work on. Construction is rugged and durable, but the bikes are still sporty and agile compared to their contemporaries. They’re sportbikes, yet can actually rack up miles, since they’re not highly-strung or fragile. And the innovative frame design by Lino Tonti that allowed the engine to be set low for handling and cornering clearance, also just happens to make for the lowest, meanest-looking bike of the period.

1973 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport Green R Side Detail

Although some very odd folks have occasionally been known to race the earlier “loop-framed” Guzzis, they were primarily sport-touring machines, and Guzzi wanted a piece of that “win on Sunday, sell on Monday” pie, so they needed something with a bit more handling. They knew the powertrain would do the job, but the frame of the V700 was just too tall to be competitive in racing.

1973 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport Green Dash

So Lino Tonti designed a very low frame with detachable bottom rails to improve handling, the engine was punched out from 703cc’s to 748 to slip in under the 750cc limit for racing, and a 5-speed gearbox was fitted. The generator was moved from the top of the engine to the front and replaced with a compact Bosch alternator, freeing up room for the frame top rails. A huge front drum was fitted and adjustable “swan-neck” clip on bars allowed the ergonomics to be tailored to suit the rider’s mood.

1973 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport Green Rear Wheel

From the original eBay listing: 1973 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport for Sale

Mostly Original Great Vintage Motorcycle 24592 miles!

This is a very close to original bike, although recently repainted.  Has been stored indoors, as a collector on display, for many years.  If you want this one to run, it would need to be gone through, battery, etc.  But otherwise you can leave dry and add to your collection.  

Due to the misplacement of a single box during the painting, the gas cap box locks and pet cock are not included.  If/when that box is found, those items will be included.  Please see the photos and let us know if you need any more.

The original run of Telaio Rosso [“red frame”] bikes were basically hand-built, with details not found on later bikes, including sand-cast engine cases. And while those few bikes represent the Holy Grail for Guzzi fans, the production V7 Sport was made in enough numbers to make them a realistic goal. Prices have more than doubled in the past ten years, but they’re still relatively affordable and very usable bikes, with plenty of replacement parts.

1973 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport Green Front Wheel

As always, it’s especially important to do your research before plunking down cash on a V7 Sport: the Tonti frame was in production for more than 30 years, and tanks, fenders, bars, and exhausts are all available, so many replicas exist.

-tad

1973 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport Green R Side Detail2

 

Moto Guzzi

1973 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport for Sale

1973 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport L Side

There’s possibly only one thing more frustrating than realizing the potential value of something after it’s already appreciated: recognizing that potential ahead of time, but lacking the funds to buy in! I remember when V7 Sports, Laverda SF’s, Le Manses [is that even a thing?], were all very affordable…

1973 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport L Side Tank

Moto Guzzi’s V7 Sport was the company’s first v-twin sportbike. Earlier racing efforts used the old “loop-frame” as their foundation, but it was clear something better was needed. Engineer Lino Tonti designed a new frame that allowed the longitudinally-mounted twin to sit very low for good handling and stability, with the side benefit of looking lean and purposeful. Servicing the engine is a snap, with the heads sticking out in the breeze and relatively easy access to the timing components. And the Tonti frame features detachable lower frame rails to make major service relatively straightforward.

1973 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport R Side Engine

Café racers and specials featuring this frame and powertrain may have become cliché, but there’s a good reason for that, and I still want one, although I still plan to just build mine from a less expensive starting point.

It’s hard not to be sold on the bike just from the very nice, high-res photography. From the original listing: 1973 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport for Sale

Overall, the bike is in very good condition and runs very well.  The engine has a little over 140psi compression in both cylinders and doesn’t leak anywhere.

The transmission shifts nicely (for a Guzzi!) and is a five speed, with the old right hand shift, one up, four down shift pattern.

Original levers, switches, controls, etc. all appear to be in good condition and operate as they should

 All the electrics work fine including, lights, horn, turn signals, brake lights, etc.

Paint is in very good to excellent condition. Both tool boxes use the same key and lock correctly and securely.  The frame does have a few scratches here and there, but overall, the paint on it is in nice condition. 

Front and rear stainless fenders are in very nice condition (no dents or dings that I noticed).  Chrome is very nice for a bike of this age, but it is not perfect (again, it’s Italian and wasn’t perfect to begin with) and shows some “patina” in some areas (see pics as I’ve tried to show where).  

The mufflers are original “shark gill” Silentium’s (they are NOT repops).  They are in very good to excellent condition with no flaking or pitting on either side.

1973 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport Tail

Price is $21,800 with one offer so far. It has some minor chips and scratches, but the bike still looks terrific and just suggests that the bike has been used as intended. Guzzi’s sportbikes make great classics: they handle well, have good brakes, heritage and racing history, and you can ride the hell out of them. While $22,000 isn’t exactly chump change, it seems like a small price to pay for something this beautiful and this timelessly classic. A bike you can show off, and use to go places.

-tad

1973 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport R Side

Moto Guzzi

Reader’s Ride: Very Original 1973 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport for Sale

1973 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport Black L Side

Look, you can mock old Guzzi’s all you want for their “truck-like” qualities.  Deride their descended-from-a-tractor heritage.  Laugh as they lurch to the side when you blip the throttle.  But “truck-like” is apt in more ways than one: trucks are built to do stuff, and go places.  Not sit in a garage being tinkered with like some exotic sports car.  I know a guy who’s a pretty accomplished motorcycle mechanic.  He got that way because he owns old Triumphs and got tired of constantly paying mechanics to work on them.

Old Moto Guzzi’s are built to go places.  And the V7 was built to go places quickly: you really can’t argue with the sheer, mile-munching charisma of a nice Moto Guzzi.

1973 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport Black Dash

The V7 Sport was Guzzi’s first v-twin sportbike, an attempt to move away from the touring character of the earlier “loop-framed” V700’s.  The new frame, designed by Lino Tonti, allowed the low, lean stance that characterizes their sporting motorcycles and was so effective it was used, in one form or another, for the next forty years.

This, early drum-braked example looks to be extremely original and needs very little to be done.  The original eBay listing has a pretty comprehensive overview of the bike’s condition: 1973 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport for Sale

Overall, the bike is in very good condition and runs and rides well.  The engine has a little over 140psi compression in both cylinders tested cold, doesn’t smoke or burn oil as best I can tell, and doesn’t leak anywhere.  The transmission shifts nicely (for a Guzzi!) and is a five speed, with the old right hand shift, one up, four down shift pattern.  Original levers, switches, controls, etc. all appear to be in good condition and operate as they should.  The only two exceptions are the neutral light which works, but goes on and off in just about any gear depending on the day of the month and where the moon is in the sky (pretty sure it needs a new neutral indicator switch although it may just be that it’s Italian!) and the starter button on the handlebars.  The starter button doesn’t work, but the key switch starter position works fine.  I’m not sure what the issue is there, and honestly haven’t tried to troubleshoot it.  All the other electrics work fine including, lights, horn, turn signals, brake lights, etc.

Wheels are all original and correct Borrani rims and stainless spokes (that’s what they came with new) in excellent condition with a new set of Dunlop D404’s on them.  I checked the brake shoes when I replaced the tires and all looked good. 

I have done little to the bike since I’ve owned it other than put a new set of tires on it, change all the oil (engine, transmission and rear end), checked and set the timing and valve clearances, washed and waxed it and ridden it.  It starts almost instantly, and is a blast to ride.  If you’ve always wanted a V7 Sport, this is a very nice relatively low mileage example that runs well.  

1973 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport Black R Engine

Nice old collectible Guzzis always present a bit of a conundrum: do you cherish them for their handsome looks, quality engineering, and important place in motorcycling history?  Or do you strap a pack and bedroll to the seat and head out to the middle of nowhere on a road trip?

The choice is yours.

-tad

1973 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport Black R Rear